Orchard heater



s. SHANKS Feb. 27, 1934.

OBQHARD HEATER Filed July 15, 1932 oerf AS. Skew/rs,

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

-eateries set. 27, test UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,949,336 oncmmn HEATER 1mm s. Shanks, mm, Calif. Application July 15, 1932. Serial No. 622,736

1 Claim. (01. 158-91) This invention relates to orchard heaters, and has more particular reference to an improved stack for orchard heaters of the ,oil burning type.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved stack for orchard heaters having eflicient means for controlling the admission of air for mixture with the fuel, whereby complete combustion may be effected to minimize fuel consumption, to avoid objectionable production of smoke, and to generate a maximum amount of heat.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved stack for orchard heaters having a grate in the base thereof between the mixing and combustion chambers, and means to ,control the admission of air to the mixing and combustion chambers, or above and below the grate, whereby substantially perfect combustion may be secured to minimize fuel consumption and to produce a maximum amount of heat without the production of objectionable smoke.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of an orchard heater having a stack embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2- 2 1 of Figure 1.

The stack of the present invention may be used on any type of bowlor pot 5 adapted to contain the oil or liquid fuel, the bowl or pot shown being provided with a cover 6 having an upstanding neck 7 over which the stack is mounted, and the cover 6 being provided with a suitable vented filling opening as at 3.

As shown, the present stack preferably consists of an upper section 9 and a lower section 10, the lower section 10 comprising a relatively large cylindrical body 11 having reduced necks l2 and 13 connected to the ends thereof by tapered portions 14 and 15. The lower neck 13 is relatively long so as to fit over and extend upwardly above the neck '7 of the cover 6, the,"

projecting upper portion of the neck 13 being provided with a circular series of air inlet openings 16. a The air inlet openings 16 are controlled by a damper 17 consisting of an annular band revolubly mounted on the neck 13 and having a circular series of openings adapted to be partially or wholly brought into or out of registry with the openings 16.

A convex grate 18 is mounted in the base of the stack at the juncture of the lower end of the body 11 with the tapered lower portion 15, thus dividing the lower portion of the stack into a lower mixing chamber beneath the grate 18 and an upper combustion chamber above the grate 18 within the body 11. The grate 18 preferably consists of a somewhat bell-shaped sheet metal member having a raisedv central portion provided with openings 19 through which the mixture of air and fuel vapor may pass for ignition and burning directly above the grate. Additional air is supplied to the combustion chamber, or to the mixture ignited therein directly above the grate 18, through a circular series of openings 20 controlled by a damper 21. The damper 21 is similar in construction to the damper 17, the same consisting of an annular apertured. band rotatably mounted on the body 11 coincident with the openings 20. By the provision of the grate 18 between the mixing and combustion chambers, and the provision of openings in the stack above and below the grate for controlling the admission of air to the mixing and combustion chambers, combustion may be efliciently controlled so as to be rendered substantially perfect, thereby securing maximum heat from minimum fuel consumption and reducingsmoke production to a minimum. Apertures 22 may be provided in the lower tapered portion 15 to admit a predetermined quantity of air at all times to the mixing chamber, the damper 17 being used to control the openings 16 and the amount of additional air permitted to pass therethrough. Likewise, the body 11 may be provided with numerous openings 23 above the openings 20 controlled by damper 21 for admitting a predetermined amount of air to the combustion chamber. It will'be noted that the amount of air admitted through openings 22 and 23 will not be sufiicient to promote ellicient combustion under ordinary conditions, so that when the lower damper 17 is completely closed, the fire may be as quickly extinguished. I

The upper section 9 of the stack may consist in simply a suitable length of cylindrical stove pipe telescoped at its lower end over the upper neck 12 of the lower stack section 10. k

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a stack for orchard heaters which is simple and durable in construction and economical to-manufacture. It will be further apparent I that by the use ofthe present stack, orchard ios heaters may be economically maintained in use. While: the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may section into a mixing chamber below the grate and a combustion chamber above the grate, said body having a circular series of air admission openings above the grate, a revoluble damper band for controlling said air admission openings, the reduced neck below the grate having a circular series of air admission openings, and a second independently revoluble damper band for controlling said air admission openings of the neck.

ROBERT S. SHANKS. 

